Gaire murder case proceeds to Bomana court

By EMMANUEL MAIPE
A JUDGE yesterday ordered the trial of five youths who have pleaded not guilty to wilful murder charges to proceed at the Bomana National Court.
The five youths – Laka Malaga, Hiri Malaga, Lency Henao, Noah Robert and Varo Henao – are all from Barakau village, Central province.
They are all remanded at the Bomana prison, outside Port Moresby, and appeared before Justice Panuel Mogish yesterday. 
The five were charged with the murder of Christopher Deen in a fight during a party on Jan 22 last year.
The five accused and the deceased were allegedly drinking with others near Gaire beach during a party, when an argument arose between Laka Malaga, and one of their drinking mates.
During the argument, Malaga is alleged to have continuously abused one of their drinking mates.
The deceased is alleged to have been fed up with their arguments and tried to stop Malaga.
In the process, the deceased took out a bush knife and chopped a nearby bamboo branch but accidently hit Malaga on his head with the tip of the knife.
Malaga bled heavily from the cut and then began a fight with the deceased.
The other four accused joined in the fight and attacked the deceased, who fell to the ground.
While he laid facing up, Malaga allegedly picked up a large coral and threw it on the deceased’s face. 
The other accused then hit the deceased on his head with a wooden object. They all escaped when the deceased didn’t move.
The deceased died as a result of the injuries.
The matter was reported to the police and the five men were arrested.
The lawyers from Paraka Lawyers who are representing the five filed a no-case submission, asking the court to throw out the case.
However, the State lawyer argued that there were accurate and sufficient evidence for the five to face trial.
Justice Mogish agreed and ordered the trial to proceed.